The difference between Smell and Stink

When used as nouns, smell means a sensation, pleasant or unpleasant, detected by inhaling air (or, the case of water-breathing animals, water) carrying airborne molecules of a substance, whereas stink means a strong bad smell.

When used as verbs, smell means to sense a smell or smells, whereas stink means to have a strong bad smell.

Stink is also adjective with the meaning: bad-smelling, stinky.

check bellow for the other definitions of Smell and Stink

  1. Smell as a noun:

    A sensation, pleasant or unpleasant, detected by inhaling air (or, the case of water-breathing animals, water) carrying airborne molecules of a substance.

    Examples:

    "I love the smell of fresh bread."

  2. Smell as a noun (physiology):

    The sense that detects odours.

  1. Smell as a verb (transitive):

    To sense a smell or smells.

    Examples:

    "I can smell fresh bread."

    "'Smell the milk and tell me whether it's gone off."

  2. Smell as a verb (intransitive):

    To have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of".

    Examples:

    "The roses smell lovely."

    "Her feet smell of cheese."

    "The drunkard smelt like a brewery."

  3. Smell as a verb (intransitive, without a modifier):

    To smell bad; to stink.

    Examples:

    "Ew, this stuff smells."

  4. Smell as a verb (intransitive, figurative):

    To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savour.

    Examples:

    "A report smells of calumny."

  5. Smell as a verb (obsolete):

    To exercise sagacity.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Shakespeare"

  6. Smell as a verb:

    To detect or perceive; often with out.

  7. Smell as a verb (obsolete):

    To give heed to.

  1. Stink as a verb (intransitive):

    To have a strong bad smell.

  2. Stink as a verb (intransitive, informal):

    To be greatly inferior; to perform badly.

    Examples:

    "That movie stinks. I didn't even stay for the end."

  3. Stink as a verb (intransitive):

    To give an impression of dishonesty or untruth.

    Examples:

    "Something stinks about the politician's excuses."

  4. Stink as a verb (transitive):

    To cause to stink; to affect by a stink.

  1. Stink as a noun:

    A strong bad smell.

  2. Stink as a noun (informal):

    A complaint or objection.

    Examples:

    "If you don't make a stink about the problem, nothing will be done."

  3. Stink as a noun (slang, New Zealand):

    A failure or unfortunate event.

    Examples:

    "The concert was stink."

  1. Stink as an adjective (Caribbean, Guyana):

    Bad-smelling, stinky.

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